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Year: 2023

Exploring Emergency Response for offshore wind in New England

IMCA, in partnership with Board member G+, hosted the Offshore Wind Emergency Response workshop at the New Bedford Whaling Museum in November. 80 delegates were in attendance including representatives from contractors, developers, the emergency services and regulators. Welcoming attendees to the event, Dustin Varnell of IMCA introduced New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell. Taking time out of his busy schedule, Mayor Mitchell addressed the workshop emphasising the importance of offshore wind as the next step in New Bedford’s long and proud maritime legacy. The workshop started with an introduction from Beate Hildenbrand (G+) and explored emergency response in North American offshore

Offshore wind contracting: “the start of a renewed emphasis on co-operation”

On Wednesday 6 December we welcomed representatives from contractors, developers, insurance, legal firms, and stakeholder groups at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London to explore solutions to current challenges in offshore wind contracting. Following the launch of IMCA’s first standard T&I contract for offshore wind, Navigating Offshore Wind Contracts featured a range of prominent industry speakers, a passionate panel discussion, and an engaged audience Q&A. Commenting on the Seminar, David Bloom, Director of client engagement – Europe & Africa, at IMCA said: “There were plenty of takeaways for the sector, including a focus from many in the room on the

Safety Statistics: help tell the story of our industry

As in previous years, contractor Members are being asked to submit safety statistics for 2023 for inclusion in IMCA’s analysis. Results are completely anonymised ahead of publication. The exercise forms a key part of IMCA’s safety work, allowing us to explore trends, analyse data, and compare performance with other stakeholder groups working offshore or in energy production. Most importantly, it ensures that any emerging safety issues are identified as early as possible and can allow pre-emptive steps to be taken. Your company’s involvement ensures that your organisation is proactively playing its part in helping the industry as a whole to

New Diving lead announced at IMCA

Bill Chilton has been announced as the new Diving Manager at IMCA. Bill joined IMCA in November 2021 and has 25 years of experience in the commercial diving industry, including 12 years at the Health & Safety Executive in the UK regulating the safety of divers working in the offshore energy and other sectors of the diving industry. During his time at the HSE, Bill also worked as a decommissioning specialist. Prior to this Bill worked as an air and saturation diver on a wide range of diving projects and also held a variety of topside positions, including project engineer

New standard contract for offshore wind projects ensures a fairer distribution of risk

IMCA has published the industry’s first standard contract for transport and installation (T&I) works in offshore wind projects. The contract has been written to ensure a fairer allocation of risk. Building on the release of our Contracting Principles in January 2023, its publication comes on the heels of an IMCA-led campaign for an industry-wide discussion on sustainable contracting in offshore wind. The campaign was highlighted by the UK’s Offshore Wind Champion Tim Pick in his report to UK Government in March 2023 which noted that IMCA’s Contracting Principles, “is a helpful piece of thought-leadership.” In recent months, several high-profile projects

New colleagues welcomed boosting skills and capacity

IMCA is delighted to welcome two new colleagues to the team to boost skills and capacity in strategic areas for the Secretariat. John Kingston – Technical Document Assurance Co-ordinator John will support the delivery of IMCA’s Technical Library and work with the team of Technical Advisers to ensure greater consistency across IMCA’s technical documents. As a Technical Writer, John has worked continuously in the marine oil and gas sector since 2011, when he joined the team revising BP Shipping’s fleet operating management system, with new documentation being approved by the Plain English Campaign before issue. He then worked as a

Bryan McGlinchy set to retire as diving lead

After almost 12 years leading diving at IMCA, and more than 40 years working in the sector, Bryan McGlinchy will be retiring at the end of the year. Throughout his time with IMCA as Diving Manager, Bryan has had a huge impact on its Diving output and, through his work with IMCA and previously at the HSE in the UK, a positive impact on offshore performance and diving safety across the industry. IMCA Contact Iain Grainger CEO Contact Error: Contact form not found. Commenting on Bryan’s retirement, Iain Grainger, IMCA CEO said: “I’m sure everyone in the industry will join

New recommended practice aims to improve safety in shallow waters

The rise of offshore wind means specialist vessels are increasing their activity in shallow waters. With this in mind, we have released Guidance which aims to support Dynamic Positioning (DP) operations in shallow waters. Recommended Practice for Shallow Water DP Operations (IMCA M263) expands on topics mentioned in previous IMCA Guidance, offering a broader understanding of DP operations in waters where more fixed assets can be found in condensed work areas and where the increased numbers of vessels can raise the risk of collision. M263 will assist land-based project managers to better understand time scales and processes and adjust expectations

Coming together to explore the new offshore environment

A sold out Lifting and Rigging Seminar saw more than 120 delegates join IMCA in Amsterdam to explore the tools, training, and technology of the “new offshore environment.” Across a full agenda featuring 16 speakers, several interactive sessions, and a collaborative workshop, attendees discussed safety best-practice and lift plans, operational technology, the latest innovations from suppliers, and related academic research. One of the highlights of our event calendar, the expertly curated Seminar from IMCA brings the lifting and rigging professional community together to shape our activity in this space, with discussions feeding into the future workplans of the Lifting and

New Code of Practice could save millions by preventing subsea cable failure

With some estimates putting the cost of subsea cable failure for Offshore Wind at more than £500 million in 2020, the average insurance claim worth more than £3 million, and an estimated 30% failure rate in any given year, IMCA has released a new Code of Practice to improve the installation of underwater power cables in offshore wind. The Code of Practice for Offshore Cable Laying in the Renewable Energy Industry (IMCA M264) addresses issues for the safe laying and terminating of offshore power cables to prevent damage, a significant challenge for offshore wind where rates of failure result in

IMCA chairs supply chain discussion at Reuters event

IMCA CEO Iain Grainger chaired a cross-industry conversation at Reuters Offshore and Floating Wind Europe in London on Thursday 26 October 2023.   ‘Scaling up the supply chain to deliver energy security ambitions’ brought together the industry to explore how best to meet local requirements in an era of global expansion, how we can invest in the right equipment, people and ports to boost capacity and capability, and how to meet ever-increasing demands for a sustainable approach. Joining Iain Grainger were Albert Clark, Head of Offshore Wind, Department for Business and Trade (UK Government), Sian Lloyd Rees, UK Managing Director,

วิดีโอด้านความปลอดภัยของ IMCA มียอดดูทะลุ 1.8 ล้านครั้ง เมื่อมีการเปิดตัวช่องใหม่ที่เป็นภาษาไทย 

อง YouTube ภาษาไทยใหม่ ได้เปิดตัวขึ้นเพื่อมุ่งเน้นที่จะเพิ่มความปลอดภัยในงานนอกชายฝั่ง ช่องนี้ดำเนินการโดยสมาคมผู้รับเหมาทางทะเลระหว่างประเทศ (IMCA) มีการแชร์วิดีโอด้านความปลอดภัย 15 รายการ ซึ่งแปลมาจากภาษาอังกฤษ  วิดีโอนี้เปิดให้ทุกคนเข้าดูได้ฟรี เพื่อให้มั่นใจได้ว่าคนงานนอกชายฝั่งที่มีพื้นเพมาจากประเทศไทยสามารถเข้าถึงข้อมูลด้านความปลอดภัยจาก IMCA ในภาษาของตนได้  วิดีโอได้ถูกออกแบบให้มีความกระชับและน่าสนใจ เพื่อนำเสนอแนวทางปฏิบัติที่ดีด้านความปลอดภัยนอกชายฝั่ง วิดีโอเหล่านี้เหมาะสำหรับบริษัทที่ต้องการส่งเสริมความตระหนักด้านความปลอดภัยภายในองค์กรและด้านการฝึกอบรม  ในหมวดวิดีโอที่เปิดให้ดูจะมีวีดีโอความปลอดภัยในการทำงานบนที่สูง แนววิถีอันตราย ที่อับอากาศ และอุปกรณ์ยก  IMCA Contact Nicholas Hough Consultant – Safety and Security Contact Error: Contact form not found. วิดีโอความปลอดภัยของ IMCA เริ่มเปิดตัวในปี 2009 และวิดีโอภาษาไทยใหม่รวมอยู่ในช่องภาษาอาหรับ ฝรั่งเศส อินโดนีเซีย อิตาลี มาเลเซีย สเปน ตากาล็อก และโปรตุเกส Nick Hough ที่ปรึกษาด้านความปลอดภัยของ IMCA แสดงความคิดเห็นเกี่ยวกับการเปิดตัวช่องว่า “วิดีโอของเรามีผลอย่างมากต่อความปลอดภัยนอกชายฝั่งที่มีการชมทางออนไลน์มากกว่า 1.8 ล้านครั้ง นี้เป็นแหล่งข้อมูลที่ดีเยี่ยมสำหรับบริษัทที่ทำงานนอกชายฝั่งทั่วโลก และเราได้ทุ่มเทกันอย่างหนักตลอดหลายปีที่ผ่านมาเพื่อแปลมัน ให้ผู้คนจำนวนมากที่สุดเท่าที่เป็นไปได้ สามารถเข้าถึงข้อมูลสำคัญและแนวทางปฏิบัติที่ดีในภาษาของพวกเขาได้” “ผมมีความยินดีที่จะแบ่งปันช่องทางใหม่นี้ซึ่งจะเพิ่มความปลอดภัยสำหรับคนงานนอกชายฝั่งชาวไทยและบริษัทที่ทำงานในประเทศไทย ทั่วทั้งภูมิภาคเอเชียแปซิฟิก และที่อื่นๆ” “ผมขอขอบคุณ Ocean Works Asia ที่สละเวลาแปลวิดีโอเป็นภาษาไทย และแบ่งปันให้กับเราเพื่อความปลอดภัยในการทำงานนอกชายฝั่ง” อ่านเรื่องนี้เป็นภาษาอังกฤษ ดูช่อง YouTube ของ IMCA ในภาษาไทย  HSSE committee Thai safety videos Story in English

Safety videos break 1.8 million views as new Thai language channel launches

A new Thai language YouTube channel has launched devoted to improving offshore safety. The channel, run by IMCA, shares 15 safety videos which have been translated from English. Available to all and for free, the videos ensure that offshore workers originally from Thailand can access safety information from IMCA in their native language.  Designed to offer a bite-sized and engaging means of accessing offshore safety best-practice, the videos are ideal for companies looking to complement their own internal safety awareness and training offering.  Among the videos launched are safety films on working at height, line of fire, confined space and

Help shape the future of your industry

IMCA committee elections are on the horizon and a new cycle will start in 2024 with elections for Marine, Diving, Offshore Survey, Remote Systems and ROV, HSSE, and Europe & Africa all taking place next year. Being elected to our committees is a great way of influencing the future of your industry and offers the opportunity of shaping IMCA’s workstreams including the production of relevant guidance and information notes, inputting into our programme of industry events, and driving a proactive committee agenda. In return, IMCA expects committee members to provide between one and five hours a month (depending on the

IMO continues work on the Ballast Water Management Convention at MEPC 80

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (the BWM Convention) is intended to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms from one region to another and damage to the marine environment from ballast water discharge, by minimising the uptake and subsequent discharge of sediments and organisms.  The Convention entered into force globally on 8 September 2017 and requires signatory Flag States to ensure that ships flagged by them comply with standards and procedures for the management and control of ships’ ballast water and sediments by requiring all ships to implement a Ballast Water Management Plan,

Scaling up the supply chain to deliver energy security ambitions

IMCA is delighted to be chairing a panel discussion at Reuters Offshore & Floating Wind Europe 2023 in London on 25/26 October. Bringing together developers, suppliers, investors, and policymakers, the two-day event features a range of senior business leaders from across Europe and takes place at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, Tower Bridge, London. Despite an incredible 50GW of projects expected to roll out in the next 24 months, and billions of euros in contracts ready to be unlocked, the sector is facing supply chain, infrastructure, and risk challenges. IMCA has been highlighting the need for more to be done in

Exploring alternative contracting models

We preview the upcoming IMCA Regional Meeting in North America on 2 November 2023. Book your place now. IMCA’s hybrid regional meeting brings together leading voices in the offshore oil and gas and wind industry to discuss how we can overcome the performance challenges we collectively face in North America, and how alternative contracting models can help us collectively meet the huge expectations placed on our sectors.  Challenging productivity, an adversarial and competitive working environment, and limited take-up of technology and innovation have impacted across the supply chain. Organising contracts around common goals with a focus on collaboration, cooperation, and

Limiting Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) at the IMO 

Underwater radiated noise (URN) from ships has been proven to have a damaging effect on marine wildlife and even marine plants of many types. Factors which have been identified as contributing to URN, include ship resistance and propulsion together with ship machinery systems and operational approaches.  For several years the IMO has been working on guidelines to mitigate the effects of URN and in 2014 it approved its first set of guidelines on underwater noise (MEPC.1/Circ.833). Since those guidelines were approved there has been a doubling of noise levels in the ocean.  IMCA Contact Margaret Fitzgerald Head of Legal &

Just one month to go until IMCA Lifting & Rigging 2023

The countdown is now on for our one-day Lifting & Rigging Seminar on Thursday 26 October 2023 in Amsterdam. This year’s event, the 11th in the series, focuses on “Lifting in the new offshore environment.” Over the years, it has generated a strong industry following due to an engaging line-up of prominent speakers, and this edition will be no different. It includes interactive Q&A sessions and practical technical workshops from offshore installation contractors, technology providers, academia, IMCA Members and the broader industry. Together, we will explore the challenges and opportunities in lifting and rigging. Curated by IMCA’s own Lifting &

Approved Diving System Inspector scheme progresses

IMCA has published two new Guidance documents to support the forthcoming Accredited Diving System Inspector (ADSI) scheme. Planned for release later in 2023, the scheme will become the industry-recognised professional accreditation for diving system inspectors. It also aims to improve the quality, professionalism and credibility of DESIGN diving system inspections – IMCA’s reference document for the equipment and set up required for safe diving operations. This will provide assurance that diving systems that have undergone a DESIGN inspection by an ADSI are both safe and fit for purpose. The ADSI scheme will be open to a range of personnel including

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